Rail including a shelf for supporting an information handling system

ABSTRACT

A rack system for supporting one or more information handling systems is provided. The rack system may include a rack and one or more rails coupled to the rack and configured to support one or more information handling systems. At least one of the rails may include an upper support structure, a lower support structure, a slot defined between the upper and lower support structures and configured to receive a guide structure of the information handling system, and a shelf. The slot may have a front end opening proximate to a front end of the rail, and extend toward a back end of the rail. The shelf may extend forward from the front end opening of the slot, and can support a portion of the information handling system when the guide structure is not received in the slot. The shelf may also not be coupled to any other rail.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/330,263 filed Dec. 8, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,127,940 the contentsof which is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates in general to information handlingsystems, and more particularly to a rail having a shelf for physicallysupporting an information handling system.

BACKGROUND

As the value and use of information continues to increase, individualsand businesses seek additional ways to process and store information.One option available to users is information handling systems Aninformation handling system generally processes, compiles, stores,and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or otherpurposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of theinformation. Because technology and information handling needs andrequirements vary between different users or applications, informationhandling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled,how the information is handled, how much information is processed,stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the informationmay be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in informationhandling systems allow for information handling systems to be general orconfigured for a specific user or specific use such as financialtransaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage,or global communications. In addition, information handling systems mayinclude a variety of hardware and software components that may beconfigured to process, store, and communicate information and mayinclude one or more computer systems, data storage systems, andnetworking systems.

Increasingly, information handling systems are deployed in systems thatinclude multiple information handling systems arranged in racks andsupported by rails, which may consolidate the physical space required tostore, maintain and/or operate the information handling systems.However, a rack and rail system supporting multiple information handlingsystems often creates some difficulties for inserting and removinginformation handling systems to and from the rack.

SUMMARY

In accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure, a racksystem for supporting one or more information handling systems includesa rack and one or more rails coupled to the rack and configured tosupport one or more information handling systems. At least one of therails includes an upper support structure, a lower support structure, aslot defined between the upper and lower support structures andconfigured to receive a guide structure of the information handlingsystem, and a shelf. The slot has a front end opening proximate to afront end of the rail, and extends toward a back end of the rail. Theshelf extends forward from the front end opening of the slot, and cansupport a portion of the information handling system when the guidestructure is not received in the slot.

In accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure, a railsystem for supporting one or more information handling systems includesone or more rails configured to support one or more information handlingsystems. At least one of the rails includes an upper support structure,a lower support structure, a slot defined between the upper and lowersupport structures and configured to receive a guide structure of theinformation handling system, and a shelf. The slot has a front endopening proximate to a front end of the rail, and extends toward a backend of the rail. The shelf extends forward from the front end opening ofthe slot, and can support a portion of the information handling systemwhen the guide structure is not received in the slot.

In accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure, aninformation handling system includes a rack, a plurality of informationhandling systems, and one or more rails coupled to the rack andconfigured to support one or more information handling systems. At leastone of the rails includes an upper support structure, a lower supportstructure, a slot defined between the upper and lower support structuresand configured to receive a guide structure of the information handlingsystem, and a shelf. The slot has a front end opening proximate to afront end of the rail, and extends toward a back end of the rail. Theshelf extends forward from the front end opening of the slot, and cansupport a portion of the information handling system when the guidestructure is not received in the slot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present embodiments and advantagesthereof may be acquired by referring to the following description takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like referencenumbers indicate like features, and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example rack system for supporting one or moreinformation handling systems, including one or more support rails havinga supporting shelf, in accordance with certain embodiments of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates the rack system of FIG. 1 with only a single pair ofrails attached to the rack, in accordance with certain embodiments ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 3 illustrates a first example rail having a shelf for supporting aninformation handling system, in accordance with certain embodiments ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 4 illustrates a second example rail having a shelf for supportingan information handling system, in accordance with certain embodimentsof the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 illustrates a third example rail having a shelf for supporting aninformation handling system, in accordance with certain embodiments ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 6 illustrates a fourth example rail having a shelf for supportingan information handling system, in accordance with certain embodimentsof the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 illustrates an example shelf (e.g., any of the example shelvesshown in FIGS. 3-6) supporting a portion of an information handlingsystem, in accordance with certain embodiments of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 8 illustrates a rail supporting an information handling systemduring installation of the information handling system into the rail, inaccordance with the certain embodiments of present disclosure; and

FIG. 9 illustrates an example shelf (e.g., any of the example shelvesshown in FIGS. 3-6) supporting a portion of an information handlingsystem, in accordance with certain embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Preferred embodiments and their advantages are best understood byreference to FIGS. 1 through 9, wherein like numbers are used toindicate like and corresponding parts.

For the purposes of this disclosure, an information handling system mayinclude any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operableto compute, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate,switch, store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, orutilize any form of information, intelligence, or data for business,scientific, control, entertainment, or other purposes. For example, aninformation handling system may be a personal computer, a PDA, aconsumer electronic device, a network storage device, or any othersuitable device and may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality,and price. The information handling system may include memory, one ormore processing resources such as a central processing unit (CPU) orhardware or software control logic. Additional components or theinformation handling system may include one or more storage devices, oneor more communications ports for communicating with external devices aswell as various input and output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, amouse, and a video display. The information handling system may alsoinclude one or more buses operable to transmit communication between thevarious hardware components.

FIG. 1 illustrates a system 100 for supporting one or more informationhandling systems (IHSs) 104, according to certain embodiments of thepresent disclosure. System 100 includes a rack 102 and one or more pairsof rails 106. Rack 102 is, in some embodiments, a framework with a base136, posts 138, and a cap, capable of housing or supporting multipleIHSs 104. In some embodiments, rack 102 may be a two-post 19-inch widerack capable of housing up to 42 rack units, each rack unitapproximately 1.75 inches tall, such as that described by standardEIA-310-D, promulgated by the Electronic Industries Association.However, in other embodiments, rack 102 may include any other number ofposts (e.g., four), may include one or more walls, may include a door,may have different dimensions (e.g., a 23-inch wide rack), may beconfigured to house or support a different number of rack units, or maybe a custom enclosure with non-standard dimensions.

In some embodiments, one or both of a pair of rails 106 configured tosupport an IHS 104 may include a shelf 108 configured to support aportion of the IHS 104, e.g., during insertion and/or removal of the IHS104 from rack 102. Each rail 106 may be a unitary piece of sheet metal,or may be made of multiple pieces, or from aluminum, plastic, or anysuitably rigid material capable of supporting a portion of IHS 104. Eachrail 106 connects to a post 138 such that a pair of rails 106 connect toopposite posts 138 in order to support an IHS 104. In some embodiments,a pair of rails 106 may support a single IHS 104 (e.g., a server), ormay support multiple IHSs 104 (e.g., certain digital video equipmentthat requires less than the full width of rack 102).

Shelf 108 is configured to support a portion of an IHS 104 duringinstallation and/or removal of the IHS 104 from rack 102. In someembodiments, shelf 108 and rail 106 are formed integrally (e.g., asingle piece of sheet metal). In other embodiments, shelf 108 and rail106 may be separate pieces connected in any suitable manner (e.g., usingscrews or other fasteners, by welding, etc.). Each of shelf 108 and rail106 may be formed from any suitable materials, e.g., steel, aluminum,plastic, or any other suitably rigid material capable of supporting allor a portion of an IHS 104. Example embodiments of rail 106 and shelf108 are described in greater detail below with reference to FIGS. 2-8.

FIG. 2 illustrates system 100 with only a single pair of rails 106connected to rack 102, according to certain embodiments of the presentdisclosure. In some embodiments, one or both of the pair of rails 106includes an upper support structure 210, a lower support structure 212,a slot 214 defined between upper support structure 210 and lower supportstructure 212, and a shelf 108 extending forward from a front endopening 216 of slot 214. The illustrated pair of rails 106 connect toopposite sides of rack 102, such that the pair of rails 106 is capableof supporting one or more IHSs, as described in more detail above withreference to FIG. 1.

In some embodiments, upper support structure 210 and lower supportstructure 212 are an integral component, whereas in other embodiments,upper support structure 210 and lower support structure 212 are separateelements that are coupled together in any suitable manner. Upper supportstructure 210 and lower support structure 212 may be formed from steel,aluminum, plastic, or any other suitably rigid material capable ofsupporting an IHS. Upper support structure 210 and lower supportstructure 212 may physically support an IHS in various translationaland/or rotational directions. For example, upper support structure 210and lower support structure 212 may provide vertical support from boththe top and the bottom (support form the top may be helpful, e.g.,during transport of rack 102), horizontal support to prevent an IHS fromsliding out of the back sides of the rails, and/or rotational support toprevent/resist rotation of an IHS (e.g., to prevent/resist the front,back, a side, or a corner of an IHS from flexing or rotating downward orupward). In some embodiments, rail 106 may include a structure connectedto upper support structure 210 and/or lower support structure 212 toprevent IHS from sliding horizontally out of the back of a pair of rails106 In other embodiments, upper support structure 210 and lower supportstructure 212 join together toward the rear of rail 106 to provide aphysical “stop” for preventing IHS from sliding horizontally out of theback of a pair of rails 106. Such physical support may help prevent orreduce damage to the IHS or its internal components.

Slot 214 may be configured to receive one or more guide structures of anIHS (e.g., guide structures 722 shown in FIG. 7). Slot 214 includes afront end opening 216 proximate to a front end 218 of rail 106, andextends toward a back end 220 of rail 106. Front end opening 216 may beconfigured to initially receive one or more guide structures of the IHS.In some embodiments, slot 214 or front end opening 216 may include aflared portion to provide greater access for, or to help guide, theguide structures, as described in more detail in FIGS. 3-6. Theinteraction of guide structures with slot 214 and front end opening 216are described in greater detail below with reference to FIG. 8.

Shelf 108 is configured to support a portion of an IHS duringinstallation and/or removal of the IHS from a pair of rails 106. Exampleembodiments and operation of shelf 108 are described in greater detailbelow with reference to FIGS. 3-8.

FIGS. 3-6 illustrate some example embodiments of rails 106 having ashelf 108 for supporting an IHS. FIG. 3 illustrates a first example rail106A having a shelf 108A for supporting an information handling system,according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. Rail 106Aincludes upper support structure 210A, a lower support structure 212A, aslot 214A defined between upper support structure 210A and lower supportstructure 212A, and shelf 108A, extending forward from a front endopening 216A of slot 214A. In some embodiments, upper support structure210A and lower support structure 212A are configured to providehorizontal, vertical, and/or rotational support to the IHS, as describedin more detail above with reference to FIG. 2.

In some embodiments, shelf 108A is a substantially horizontal membercapable of supporting a portion of an IHS for installation and/orremoval of the IHS from rail 106A. Shelf 108A may support a portion ofan IHS during installation by a person so that the person may moreeasily align a guide structure (e.g., guide structures 722 shown in FIG.7) of an IHS with the front end opening 216A of slot 214A, as describedin more detail below with reference to FIG. 8. During removal of the IHSfrom rail 106A by a person, shelf 108A may support a portion of the IHSafter the last guide structure has exited slot 214A so that the personmay not need to immediately support the entire weight of the IHS, thusreducing the chances of dropping or damaging the IHS.

In some embodiments, slot 214A or front end opening 216A may include aflared portion 215A that may provide greater access for the guidestructures, e.g., to help guide the guide structures into the front endopening 216A of slot 214A. The interaction of the guide structures, slot214A, and front end opening 216A are described in greater detail belowwith reference to FIG. 8.

FIG. 4 illustrates a second example rail 106B having a shelf 108B forsupporting an information handling system, according to certainembodiments of the present disclosure. Rail 106B includes an uppersupport structure 210B, a lower support structure 212B, a slot 214Bdefined between upper support structure 210B and lower support structure212B, and a shelf 108B extending forward from a front end opening 216Bof slot 214B. In some embodiments, upper support structure 210B andlower support structure 212B are configured to provide horizontal,vertical, and/or rotational support to the IHS, as described in moredetail above with reference to FIG. 2.

In some embodiments, shelf 108B and lower support structure 212B are anintegral component, whereas in other embodiments, lower supportstructure 212B and shelf 108B are separate elements. In someembodiments, a portion of front end 218B of rail 106B may flareoutwardly relative to an opposing rail 106B in rack 102, which mayprovide greater access to shelf 108B, e.g., to improve support of theIHS during installation and/or removal of the IHS from rail 106B. Shelf108B may support a portion of the IHS during installation by a person sothat the person may more easily align a guide structure (e.g., guidestructures 722 shown in FIG. 7) of an IHS with the front end opening216B of slot 214B, as described in more detail below with reference toFIG. 8. During removal of the IHS from rail 106B by a person, shelf 108Bmay support a portion of the IHS so that the person may not need toimmediately support the entire weight of the IHS, thus reducing thechances of dropping or damaging the IHS.

In some embodiments, slot 214B or front end opening 216B may include aflared portion 215B that may provide greater access for the guidestructures, e.g., as discussed above regarding flared portion 215A.

FIG. 5 illustrates a third example rail 106C having a shelf 108C forsupporting an information handling system, according to certainembodiments of the present disclosure. Rail 106C includes an uppersupport structure 210C, a lower support structure 212C, a slot 214Cdefined between upper support structure 210C and lower support structure212C, and a shelf 108C, extending forward from a front end opening 216Cof slot 214C. In some embodiments, upper support structure 212C andlower support structure 212C are configured to provide horizontal,vertical, and/or rotational support to the IHS, as described in moredetail above with reference to FIG. 2.

In some embodiments, lower support structure 212C splits such that aportion of a split section forms shelf 108C. In some embodiments, aportion of front end 218C of rail 106C may flare outwardly relative toan opposing rail 106 in rack 102, which may provide greater access toshelf 108C, e.g., to improve support of the IHS during installationand/or removal of the IHS from rail 106C. Shelf 108C may support aportion of the IHS during installation by a person so that the personmay more easily align a guide structure (e.g., guide structures 722shown in FIG. 7) of an IHS with the front end opening 216C of slot 214C,as described in more detail below with reference to FIG. 8. Duringremoval of the IHS from rail 106C by a person, shelf 108C may support aportion of the IHS so that the person may not need to immediatelysupport the entire weight of the IHS, thus reducing the chances ofdropping or damaging the IHS.

In some embodiments, slot 214C or front end opening 216C may include aflared portion 215C that may provide greater access for the guidestructures, e.g., as discussed above regarding flared portion 215A.

FIG. 6 illustrates a fourth example rail 106D having a shelf 108D forsupporting an information handling system, according to certainembodiments of the present disclosure. Rail 106D includes an uppersupport structure 210D, a lower support structure 212D, a slot 214Ddefined between upper support structure 210D and lower support structure212D, and a shelf 108D extending forward from a front end opening 216Dof slot 214D. In some embodiments, upper support structure 210B andlower support structure 212B are configured to provide horizontal,vertical, and/or rotational support to the IHS, as described in moredetail above with reference to FIG. 2.

In some embodiments, upper support structure 210D, lower supportstructure 212D, and shelf 108D are an integrated, substantiallyhorizontal boss protruding from a substantially flat piece of metal(e.g., steel or other suitable material). Shelf 108D may support aportion of the IHS during installation by a person so that the personmay more easily align a guide structure (e.g., guide structures 722shown in FIG. 7) of an IHS with the front end opening 216D of slot 214D,as described in more detail below with reference to FIG. 8. Duringremoval of the IHS from rail 106D by a person, shelf 108D may support aportion of the IHS so that the person may not need to immediatelysupport the entire weight of the IHS, thus reducing the chances ofdropping or damaging the IHS.

In some embodiments, slot 214D or front end opening 216D may include aflared portion 215D that may provide greater access for the guidestructures, e.g., as discussed above regarding flared portion 215A.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example shelf 108 supporting a portion of aninformation handling system 104 from below IHS 104, according to certainembodiments of the present disclosure. Shelf 108 shown in FIG. 7 may beany shelf according to the teachings of this disclosure, e.g., any ofthe shelves 108 shown in FIGS. 3-6. Shelf 108 may support a rear portionof IHS 104 during installation by a person so that the person may moreeasily align a guide structure 722 of an IHS 104 with a front endopening 216 of a slot 214 formed in each of a pair of rails 106. Thus,for example, a person may rest the back edge of an IHS 104 on shelf 108of a pair of rails 106 and then slide the IHS back such that the guidestructures 722 slide into front end openings 216 of slots 214 formed ineach of the rails 106. During removal of the IHS from rail 106 by aperson, shelf 108 may support a rear portion of IHS 104 after the lastguide structure 722 has exited from slots 214 formed in the pair ofrails 106 so that the person need not immediately support the entireweight of IHS 104, reducing the chances of dropping or damaging IHS 104.

FIG. 8 illustrates a rail 106 supporting an information handling system104 during installation of IHS 104 into rail 106, according to certainembodiments of the present disclosure. Rail 106 includes an uppersupport structure 210, lower support structure 212, slot 214 definedbetween upper support structure 210 and lower support structure 212, andshelf 108, extending forward from a front end opening 216 of slot 214.IHS 104 includes at least one guide structure 722 configured forinsertion into slot 214. In some embodiments, guide structures 722 mayinclude shoulder screw nuts protruding from each side of IHS 104. Inother embodiments, guide structures 722 may be any other appropriatelyshaped protuberances such as rivets or bolts configured for insertioninto slot 214.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example shelf 108 supporting a portion of aninformation handling system 104 from below IHS 104, according to certainembodiments of the present disclosure. Shelf 108 shown in FIG. 9 may beany shelf according to the teachings of this disclosure, e.g., any ofthe shelves 108 shown in FIGS. 3-6. Shelf 108 may support a rear portionof IHS 104 during installation by a person so that the person may moreeasily align a guide structure 722 of an IHS 104 with a front endopening 216 of a slot 214 formed in each of a pair of rails 106. Thus,for example, a person may rest the back edge of an IHS 104 on shelf 108of a pair of rails 106 and then slide the IHS back such that the guidestructures 722 slide into front end openings 216 of slots 214 formed ineach of the rails 106. During removal of the IHS from rail 106 by aperson, shelf 108 may support a rear portion of IHS 104 after the lastguide structure 722 has exited from slots 214 formed in the pair ofrails 106 so that the person need not immediately support the entireweight of IHS 104, reducing the chances of dropping or damaging IHS 104.

Although the present disclosure has been described in detail, it shouldbe understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations canbe made hereto without departing from the spirit and the scope of thedisclosure as defined by the appended claims.

1. A rack system for supporting one or more information handlingsystems, comprising: a rack; and one or more rails coupled to the rackand configured to support one or more information handling systems;wherein at least one of the rails includes: an upper support structurehaving a front end proximate to a front end of the rail and extendingtoward a back end of the rail; a lower support structure having a frontend proximate to the front end of the rail and extending toward the backend of the rail; a slot defined between the upper and lower supportstructures, the slot having a front end opening proximate to the frontend of the rail, and the slot extending toward the back end of the rail;wherein the slot is configured to receive a guide structure of theinformation handling system; and a shelf extending from the lowersupport structure and extending forward from the front end opening ofthe slot and extending in a substantially horizontal plane, wherein: theshelf is configured to support a portion of the information handlingsystem when the guide structure is not received in the slot; and, theshelf in its entirety is more proximate to the front end of the railthan is the front end of the upper support structure.
 2. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the slot includes a flared portion.
 3. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the front end opening includes a flared portion.
 4. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein a portion of the front end of the rail flaresoutwardly relative to an opposing rail.
 5. The system of claim 1,wherein the shelf comprises a front portion of the lower supportstructure.
 6. A rail system for supporting one or more informationhandling systems, comprising: one or more rails configured to supportone or more information handling systems; wherein at least one of therails includes: an upper support structure having a front end proximateto a front end of the rail and extending toward a back end of the rail;a lower support structure having a front end proximate to the front endof the rail and extending toward the back end of the rail; a slotdefined between the upper and lower support structures, the slot havinga front end opening proximate to the front end of the rail, and the slotextending toward the back end of the rail; wherein the slot isconfigured to receive a guide structure of the information handlingsystem; and a shelf extending from the lower support structure andextending forward from the front end opening of the slot and extendingin a substantially horizontal plane, wherein: the shelf is configured tosupport a portion of the information handling system when the guidestructure is not received in the slot; and, the shelf in its entirety ismore proximate to the front end of the rail than is the front end of theupper support structure.
 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the slotincludes a flared portion.
 8. The system of claim 6, wherein the frontend opening includes a flared portion.
 9. The system of claim 6, whereina portion of the front end of the rail flares outwardly relative to anopposing rail.
 10. The system of claim 6, wherein the shelf comprises afront portion of the lower support structure.
 11. An informationhandling system, comprising: a rack; a plurality of information handlingsystems; and one or more rails coupled to the rack and configured tosupport one or more information handling systems; wherein at least oneof the rails includes: an upper support structure having a front endproximate to a front end of the rail and extending toward a back end ofthe rail; a lower support structure having a front end proximate to thefront end of the rail and extending toward the back end of the rail; aslot defined between the upper and lower support structures, the slothaving a front end opening proximate to the front end of the rail, andthe slot extending toward the back end of the rail; wherein the slot isconfigured to receive a guide structure of the information handlingsystem; and a shelf extending from the lower support structure andextending forward from the front end opening of the slot and extendingin a substantially horizontal plane, wherein: the shelf is configured tosupport a portion of the information handling system when the guidestructure is not received in the slot; and, the shelf in its entirety ismore proximate to the front end of the rail than is the front end of theupper support structure.
 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the slotincludes a flared portion.
 13. The system of claim 11, wherein the frontend opening includes a flared portion.
 14. The system of claim 11,wherein a portion of the front end of the rail flares outwardly relativeto an opposing rail.
 15. The system of claim 11, wherein the shelfcomprises a front portion of the lower support structure.